Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for giving me the constituency of Dublin. I do not have the constituency of Dublin but I appreciate it. As a Senator I look at things more nationally, and I have to say the word "ugly" comes into my head. When I drive around the country, my first reaction is to ask how did that happen, who gave permission for that and what is that about. I say it because I may be coming from a completely different vantage point. We do not live on linked roads. I know what Mr. Hogan is saying, that we need infrastructure to create life, but we do not live on linked roads.

We never question where we ask people to live. I was travelling down the country yesterday, it does not matter where, but the ugliness of the estates struck me, even in the paint, shape and size, and where we ask people to live. The houses were so near the road that Scania trucks would nearly be able to pass them the pepper and salt at the table. It is absolutely appalling, with no thought at all put into where people are being asked to live. We talk about wanting to give vibrancy back to towns and villages. We have to put some thought into beauty and by beauty I mean the shape of the site, or the idea of a tree or greenery. It is outrageous.

When we speak about spatial planning and communities, the communities are surviving despite the planners. They are trying to survive despite the developments. We talk about repurposing things and we have all these awful words that mean absolutely nothing. In certain towns in Ireland, people might have left and not come back and there is a house falling down, which is an eyesore. People have been employed in England to go around and find out where that person is from or where the family is from, to see whether they can do something about it, and this is their actual job. The rural redevelopment scheme was a great scheme and we might have to look at it again. I also think we have to bring more creativity and more imagination. I say the word "beauty" because if we look at parts of Kerry, Mayo and Cavan they are beautiful but sometimes, something comes in and creates a complete eyesore in what was once a beautiful area and one wonders how did that happen.

Can any of the witnesses give me three examples of great planning and an example of the worst planning?

I really think one should know the standard of what one is trying to achieve and should know what one should not repeat.